Abstract:

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may
include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more
user-generated comments from each of a plurality of computing devices,
detect a correlation in the one or more user-generated comments collected
from the plurality of computing devices, and establish a social network
between the plurality of computing devices according to the detected
correlation. The one or more user-generated comments can be temporally
associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing
devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims:

1. A method, comprising: presenting an overlay combined with a
presentation of media content at each of a plurality of computing devices
to illustrate a collection of one or more user-generated comments
temporally associated with portions of the presented media content;
collecting one or more user-generated comments from each of the plurality
of computing devices; detecting a correlation in the one or more
user-generated comments collected from the plurality of computing
devices; and establishing a social network between at least a subset of
the plurality of computing devices according to the detected correlation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the correlation corresponds to
detecting a behavioral pattern in the one or more user-generated comments
collected from the plurality of computing devices, wherein the social
network corresponds a virtual network of the subset of the plurality of
computing devices, and wherein the computing devices comprise at least
one of a computer, a portable communication device, and a gaming console.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising detecting a decorrelation of future
user-generated comments collected from the plurality of computing devices
in the social network.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising terminating a portion of the social
network according to the detected decorrelation.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising establishing the social network by
way of an on-line social networking application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method operates from an on-line
social networking application.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising: receiving from the other computing
device a request to identify at least one of the plurality of computing
devices generating one or more user-generated comments that correlate to
the one or more user generated comments generated by the other computing
device; identifying at least one of the plurality of computing devices
generating one or more user-generated comments that correlate to the one
or more user generated comments generated of another of the plurality of
computing devices; and transmitting to the other computing device at
least one identification associated with the identified at least one
computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising receiving from the other computing
device a request to establish the social network with the identified at
least one computing device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one identification
corresponds to an identification of one of the identified at least one
computing device and a user associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising: identifying the subset of
computing devices having the correlated user-generated comments
submitting a notice to the subset of computing devices; receiving a
message from at least a portion of the subset of computing devices
indicating an interest or disinterest in joining the social network; and
establishing the social network according to the messages received from
the computing devices.

11. A system, comprising a controller to: collect one or more remarks
from each of a plurality of computing devices, wherein the one or more
remarks are temporally associated with media content presented at the
plurality of computing devices; detect a correlation in the one or more
remarks collected from the plurality of computing devices; and establish
a social network between at least a subset of the plurality of computing
devices according to the detected correlation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more remarks correspond to
user-generated remarks, wherein an overlay is combined with the
presentation of the media content, and wherein the one or more
user-generated remarks are temporally associated with the media content
according to the overlay.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the correlation corresponds to
detecting a behavioral pattern in the one or more remarks collected from
the plurality of computing devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing device is one of a
computer and a portable communication device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is operable to: detect
a decorrelation of future remarks collected from the subset of the
plurality of computing devices in the social network; and terminate a
portion of the social network according to the detected decorrelation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the system comprises an online social
networking application.

17. A computer-readable storage medium in a computing device, comprising
computer instructions to: collect one or more comments temporally
associated with a presentation of media content; and transmit to a system
the comments, wherein the system is operable to: collect the one or more
comments from the computing device along with other comments from other
computing devices; detect a correlation in the one or more comments
collected from the plurality of computing devices; and establish a social
network between at least a subset of the plurality of computing devices
according to the detected correlation.

18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the correlation corresponds
to detecting a behavioral pattern in the one or more comments collected
from the plurality of computing devices.

19. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the system is operable to:
detect a decorrelation of future comments collected from the subset of
the plurality of computing devices in the social network; and terminate a
portion of the social network according to the detected decorrelation.

20. The storage medium of claim 17, comprising computer instructions to:
transmit to the system a request to identify at least one of the
plurality of computing devices generating one or more comments that
correlate to the one or more comments generated by the computing device,
wherein the system is operable to: identify at least one of the plurality
of computing devices generating one or more comments that correlate to
the one or more comments generated by the computing device; and transmit
to the computing device an identification associated with the identified
at least one computing device.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to media content and more
specifically to an apparatus and method for managing a social network.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Consumers have a number of venues to access media content. For
example, consumers can view video content supplied by social networking
portals such as MySpace, FaceBook, and YouTube over an Internet browser.
Similarly, consumers can view via a set-top box video content supplied by
an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) communication system, a satellite
TV communication system, cable TV communication system, or other
interactive TV systems. Other forms of media content such as audio
content, pictures, articles, or combinations thereof can also be accessed
by consumers over a public network such as the Internet.

[0004] Consumers can share with others their thoughts about media content
they have consumed by word of mouth, text messaging (e.g., email), or
other forms of common communication.

[0006]FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal interacting
with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

[0007]FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device
utilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

[0008]FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system for
transmitting media content, the system operable in the communications
systems of FIGS. 1-2;

[0009]FIG. 6 depicts a screenshot illustrating commentary on a timeline
associated with a media program;

[0010]FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operable in
portions of the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2 and 5;

[0011]FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an adaptive social
network resulting from the method of FIG. 7; and

[0012]FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of
a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may
cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies
discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a method
involving presenting an overlay combined with a presentation of media
content at each of a plurality of computing devices to illustrate a
collection of one or more user-generated comments temporally associated
with portions of the presented media content, collecting one or more
user-generated comments from each of the plurality of computing devices,
detecting a correlation in the one or more user-generated comments
collected from the plurality of computing devices, and establishing a
social network between at least a subset of the plurality of computing
devices according to the detected correlation.

[0014] One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a system having
a controller to collect one or more comments from each of a plurality of
computing devices, detect a correlation in the one or more comments
collected from the plurality of computing devices, and establish a social
network between at least a subset of the plurality of computing devices
according to the detected correlation. The one or more comments can be
temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of
computing devices.

[0015] One embodiment of the present disclosure can entail a
computer-readable storage medium in a computing device having computer
instructions to collect one or more comments temporally associated with a
presentation of media content, and transmit to a system the comments. The
system can be operable to collect the one or more comments from the
computing device along with other comments from other computing devices,
detect a correlation in the one or more comments collected from the
plurality of computing devices, and establish a social network between at
least a subset of the plurality of computing devices according to the
detected correlation.

[0016]FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communication
system 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100 can
represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) broadcast media system.
The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 110 with
at least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 which receives media
content from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In the
present context, media content can represent audio content, moving image
content such as videos, still image content, or combinations thereof. The
SHS server 111 can forward packets associated with the media content to
video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a network of video head-end offices
(VHO) 112 according to a common multicast communication protocol.

[0017] The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast programs via an
access network 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing
a gateway 104 (such as a common residential or commercial gateway). The
access network 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line
access multiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service
area interface that provide broadband services over optical links or
copper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can use common
communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to media
processors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn present
broadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or television
sets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as an
infrared or RF remote control).

[0018] The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108
can utilize tethered interface technologies (such as coaxial or phone
line wiring) or can operate over a common wireless access protocol. With
these interfaces, unicast communications can be invoked between the media
processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media system for services such
as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronic programming guide (EPG),
or other infrastructure services.

[0019] Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be
coupled to one or more computing devices 130 a portion of which can
operate as a web server for providing portal services over an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices 108 or
wireless communication devices 116 by way of a wireless access base
station 117 operating according to common wireless access protocols such
as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), or cellular communication technologies (such
as GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, and so on).

[0020] The first communication system 100 can also include a recipient
media device 135. The recipient media device 135 can be communicatively
linked to the ISP network 132, the one or more computing devices 130, and
to other devices in the system 100. Notably, the recipient media device
135 can be a STB, mobile device, personal computer, telephone, personal
digital assistant (PDA), or other device capable of receiving and
transmitting media content. Furthermore, the recipient media device 135
can be configured to operate in an iTV network, which can include, but is
not limited to including, IPTV, interactive cable television, and
interactive satellite television.

[0021] The recipient media device 135 can be configured to transmit
requests for media content and commentary associated with the media
content from devices in the system 100. The commentary can be
user-generated and can be in a temporal vicinity of the associated media
content. The media content and associated commentary can come from
devices such as, but is not limited to, STBs 106, media devices 108, and
wireless communications device 116. Notably, the media content and
associated commentary can include video content, audio content, still
image content, text content, and other media content. Additionally, the
recipient media device 135 can be configured to receive and respond to
requests from devices in the system 100 for media content and commentary
associated with the media content. In responding to the requests from the
devices, the recipient media device 135 can transmit media content and
commentary associated with the recipient media device 135 to the
requesting devices.

[0022] Another distinct portion of the computing devices 130 can function
as a server (herein referred to as server 130). The server 130 can use
common computing and communication technology to perform the function of
receiving, transmitting, maintaining, processing, and storing various
types of content. As mentioned above, such content can include video
content, audio content, still image content, text content, and other
content. The server 130 can maintain a client program, which can be
downloaded and/or accessed by the devices in the system 100. The client
program can be configured to present an overlay that can be superimposed
onto the media content and can allow users of the devices in the system
100 to associate a comment with media content received at the devices.

[0023] Additionally, the server 130 can be configured to receive requests
for the media content and commentary associated with the media content
from the devices in the system 100, such as the recipient media device
135 and the STBs 106. Furthermore, the server 130 can relay and/or store
the actual media content and/or the commentary associated with the media
content, and/or relay links to the media content and/or commentary
associated with the media content to the devices in the system 100
requesting the content and/or commentary.

[0024] It will be appreciated by an artisan of ordinary skill in the art
that a satellite broadcast television system can be used in place of the
IPTV media system. In this embodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite
115 supplying media content can be intercepted by a common satellite dish
receiver 131 coupled to the building 102. Modulated signals intercepted
by the satellite dish receiver 131 can be submitted to the media
processors 106 for generating broadcast channels which can be presented
at the media devices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a
broadband port to the ISP network 132 to enable infrastructure services
such as VoD and EPG described above.

[0025] In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital broadcast
distribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be used in place of
the IPTV media system described above. In this embodiment the cable TV
system 133 can provide Internet, telephony, and interactive media
services.

[0026] It follows from the above illustrations that the present disclosure
can apply to any present or future interactive over-the-air or landline
media content services.

[0027]FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system
200. employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture to
facilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switched
systems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupled
with communication system 100 as another representative embodiment of
communication system 100.

[0028] Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server
(HSS) 240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other common
network elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 can establish
communications between IMS compliant communication devices (CD) 201, 202,
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205, and combinations
thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) 220 coupled to
a PSTN network 260.

[0029] IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by
contacting a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which
communicates with a corresponding Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) to register the
CDs with at the HSS 240. To initiate a communication session between CDs,
an originating IMS CD 201 can submit a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP
INVITE) message to an originating P-CSCF 204 which communicates with a
corresponding originating S-CSCF 206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can
submit queries to the ENUM system 230 to translate an E.164 telephone
number in the SIP INVITE to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if
the terminating communication device is IMS compliant.

[0030] The SIP URI can be used by an Interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to
submit a query to the HSS 240 to identify a terminating S-CSCF 214
associated with a terminating IMS CD such as reference 202. Once
identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit the SIP INVITE to the terminating
S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF 214 can then identify a terminating
P-CSCF 216 associated with the terminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 then
signals the CD 202 to establish communications.

[0031] If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such
as references 203 or 205, the ENUM system 230 can respond with an
unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originating S-CSCF
206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout Gateway Control
Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call to the
terminating PSTN CD by common means over the PSTN network 260.

[0032] The aforementioned communication process is symmetrical.
Accordingly, the terms "originating" and "terminating" in FIG. 2 are
interchangeable. It is further noted that communication system 200 can be
adapted to support video conferencing by way of common protocols such as
H.323. In addition, communication system 200 can be adapted to provide
the IMS CDs 201, 203 the multimedia and Internet services of
communication system 100.

[0033] The server 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the second
communication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.

[0034]FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a portal 302 which can
operate from the computing devices 130 described earlier of communication
100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The portal 302 can be used for managing
services of communication systems 100-200. The portal 302 can be accessed
by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with a common Internet browser such
as Microsoft's Internet Explorer® using an Internet-capable
communication device such as those described for FIGS. 1-2. The portal
302 can be configured, for example, to access a media processor 106 and
services managed thereby such as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a VoD
catalog, an EPG, a personal catalog (such as personal videos, pictures,
audio recordings, etc.) stored in the media processor, provisioning IMS
services described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioning
cellular phone services, and so on.

[0035]FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a communication device
400. Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as an
illustrative embodiment of the communication devices of FIGS. 1-2. The
communication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wireless
transceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, a
power supply 414, a location receiver 416, and a controller 406 for
managing operations thereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-range
or long-range wireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi,
Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellular
communication technologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies
can include, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE,
EV/DO, WiMAX, SDR, and next generation cellular wireless communication
technologies as they arise. The transceiver 402 can also be adapted to
support circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),
packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCPIP, VoIP, etc.),
and combinations thereof.

[0036] The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408
with a navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, joystick, mouse, or
navigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device
400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of the
communication device 400 or an independent device operably coupled
thereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or a
wireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 can
represent a numeric dialing keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a
Qwerty keypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a
display 410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology
for conveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In
an embodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all
of the keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display.

[0037] The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes
common audio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio
heard only in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such
as speakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can
further include a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end
user. The audio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition
applications. The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as
a charged coupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving
images.

[0038] The power supply 414 can utilize common power management
technologies such as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply
regulation technologies, and charging system technologies for supplying
energy to the components of the communication device 400 to facilitate
long-range or short-range portable applications. The location receiver
416 can utilize common location technology such as a global positioning
system (GPS) receiver for identifying a location of the communication
device 400 based on signals generated by a constellation of GPS
satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such as
navigation.

[0039] The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to also
determine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi or Bluetooth access point by
common power sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signal
strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA) or time
of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computing technologies
such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and/or a
video processor with associated storage memory such a Flash, ROM, RAM,
SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

[0040] The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the
functions of the media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the
portable communication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs
201-202 and PSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that the
communication device 400 can also represent other common devices that can
operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as a gaming
console and a media player.

[0041]FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a system 500 for
transmitting media content, the system 500 being operable in portions of
the communications systems of FIGS. 1-2. The system 500 can include one
or more media devices 502, 504, and 506, which can be configured to
deliver media content to display devices 508a-c and deliver and/or
receive media content from server 510, communications device 512, and
computing device 514. The media devices 502, 504, and 506 can be STBs or
other similar media devices. The display devices 508a-c can include any
device capable of displaying and/or playing media content such as
televisions, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA),
computers, and the like. The server 510 can be a device including the
operative features of server 130, among other features. The
communications device 512 can include, for example, a mobile device, a
cellular phone, wireless device, or other communications device and the
computing device 514 can be a computer or laptop.

[0042] The server 510 can be utilized to communicatively link the media
devices 502 to the other devices of the system 500. Notably, the server
510 can be configured to receive, transmit, maintain, and store various
types of media content. Additionally, the server 510 can include a client
program, which can be accessed, downloaded, and/or otherwise utilized by
the devices in the system 500. The client program can present an overlay
that can be superimposed onto media content that is displayed and/or
received at the devices in the system 500. Users of the client program
can use the client program to associate commentary/comments with the
media content accessed by the user.

[0043] Users of the client program can select a portion of the media
content and insert a comment in a temporal vicinity of the media content.
For example, if the user is watching a television show, the user can
select a particular scene or segment, or select a button which at the
time the button is depressed creates a temporal association with a scene
or segment of the show. Responsive to this selection, the user can create
a commentary by common means such as by keyboard input, or a microphone
that can captures speech which can be translated to text using common
voice recognition techniques. The commentary (or user-generated comment)
in turn can be associated with the scene or segment at the particular
point in time that the scene or segment is shown. Of course, multiple
users experiencing the same media content (synchronously or
asynchronously between the users) can each insert their own comments to
associate with the media content as well.

[0044] Referring now also to FIG. 6, a screenshot 600 illustrating
commentary on a timeline associated with a media program, is
illustratively shown. The screenshot 600 features an overlay generated by
the client program. The overlay can include menu buttons and other
operative controls which are featured on the screenshot 600. Notably, the
overlay can include a timeline 601, which can reflect the entire duration
of a media program playing at a user's media device.

[0045] Screenshot 600 illustrates comments inserted at various points in
the timeline 601 of the media program. The iconic spheres in the
screenshot 600 can indicate that a comment has been inserted at that
particular point in the timeline 601 of the media program. For example, a
single comment 602, a single comment 604, a single comment 606, and four
comments 608 have been inserted into the timeline 601. Once the
user-generated comments are associated with their respective media
segments, the user can utilize the client program to transmit the media
content, commentary/comments, and/or links to the content and commentary
to the server 510.

[0046] The server 510 can be configured to access, store, and maintain the
media content, commentary, and/or links to the media content and
commentary. Additionally, the server 510 can be configured to maintain
information about the media content and commentary. If only the links to
the media content are sent to the server 510, the server 510 can be
configured to identify and extract the actual media content associated
with the link. Similarly, if only the links to the commentary are sent to
the server 510, the server 510 can be configured to extract the actual
commentary associated with the link.

[0047] The server 510 and/or the other devices in the system 500 can be
configured to receive requests for the commentary and/or the media
content from recipient media devices, which can be the devices in the
system 500. For example, media device 502 can transmit a request to
server 510 for media content and commentary from communications device
512. When the server 510 receives a request from a recipient media
device, the server 510 can transmit at least a portion of the actual
media content and commentary and/or the links to the media content and
commentary to the recipient media device. If only the links are sent to
the recipient media device, the recipient media device can access the
media content and/or commentary via the links.

[0048] The recipient media device can then be configured to present the
media content and/or commentary through a display device, such as display
devices 508a-c. Notably, the users of the recipient media device can
utilize the client program much like the users of the media devices
generating the commentary. Additionally, user-generated commentary and
media content can be generated at the recipient media device and can be
transmitted to other devices in the system 500 that request the
commentary and/or media content generated at the recipient media device.

[0049] In an embodiment, the server 510 can prompt a media device, such as
media devices 502, 504, and 506, to set a range of the media content to
be transmitted to the server 510. For example, the media device can set a
range of the media content, which is thirty seconds before and thirty
seconds after any commentary associated with the media content. Notably,
the range can be defined by vertical start and end lines within the
timeline of the media program that is presented by the client program,
such as those surrounding comment 604 in FIG. 6. In another embodiment,
the user of the media device can set the range without being prompted by
the server 510.

[0050]FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method 700 operating in portions of
the communication systems of FIG. 1-2, and FIG. 5. Method 700 can begin
with step 702 in which a system such as server 510 presents an overlay
combined with a presentation of media content at each of a plurality of
computing devices such as the media devices of FIG. 5. For convenience
and illustration purposes only, reference to the system in the flow
diagram of FIG. 7 will be replaced with server 510, and reference to a
computing device will be replaced with a media device. It will be
appreciated that a system and a computing device can take on more than
these illustrative embodiments. With this in mind, in step 704, the
server 510 can collect user-generated comments as described earlier from
each of the media devices.

[0051] The server 510 in step 706 can use common pattern recognition
techniques such as linear regression or other statistical models to
detect a correlation between user-generated comments collected from the
media devices. A correlation can represent a degree of similarity between
commentaries. The higher the degree of similarity, the higher the
likelihood that media device users generating the user-generated
commentaries have common interests, thereby representing a detectable
behavioral pattern.

[0052] Correlation can be determined for example by detecting similar
commentaries having a near temporal relation. For instance, the server
510 can detect negative, positive, or narrative commentaries having a
temporal proximity to each other in relation to the media content being
presented. More specifically for example say five users generate comments
about a car chase in a movie which these users are commenting on. Further
suppose three out of the five users have positive comments about the car
chase, while the other two have negative or neutral comments. Under these
circumstances, the server 510 can determine from the user-generated
comments that three out of the five users may have common interests in
action movies, the types of cars in the car chase, the actors performing
in the movie, etc.

[0053] The server 510 can be programmed with various degrees of
sophistication to determine a correlation between user-generated
comments. For instance, the server 510 can be programmed to identify
correlations based on demographic or psychographic traits directly or
indirectly identified from the user-generated comments collected. The
server 510 can also be programmed to detect correlations which can be
subcategorized (e.g., likes cars, likes hot rods, likes specific
automobile models, etc.). It should be evident from these illustrations
that there can be innumerable ways to identify correlations in
user-generated comments, which can be useful in identifying users with
common interests and/or behaviors. Accordingly, the present disclosure
contemplates all possible embodiments for correlating user-generated
comments.

[0054] When the server 510 detects correlation(s) in step 706, it can
proceed to step 708 where it identifies the media devices or users
thereof having correlated user-generated comments. The media device
and/or users can be identified by any form of identifiable data (e.g.,
telephone number, user login, social security ID, biometric ID, STB
identifier, SIP URI, static IP address, etc.). Once the media devices
and/or users have been identified, the server 510 can be programmed to
notify the users by transmitting a message to their respective media
devices. The message can indicate that a correlation has been detected
which may warrant establishing a social network if desired by the users.
In step 712, the server 510 can receive messages from the media devices
initiated by the users indicating an interest or disinterest from the
identified users in joining the social network.

[0055] In step 714, the server 510 can establish a social network
according to the users indicating from their messages that they are
interested in joining a social network. In this step, the server 510
create a virtual or adaptive social network 802 as shown in FIG. 8. The
social network can be adaptive from the perspective that the server 510
can be programmed to manage the inclusion or exclusion of users and their
media devices over the course of time. The adaptive social network 802
can be implemented with common networking technology such as virtual
private network (VPN) connections established between the identified
media devices, or by other common networking techniques which can be
established through the networks of FIGS. 1-3. The adaptive social
network 802 can also be created by way of existing social networking
applications such as FaceBook, MySpace, and so on.

[0056] Once a social network has been established, the server 510 can
continue to collect user-generated comments in step 716 from the users
partaking in the adaptive social network 802 by way of their media
devices. In step 718, the server 510 can determine if the user-generated
comments indicate a decorrelation of interests between the users. In this
step the server 510 can monitor from the user-generated comments if one
or more users in the adaptive social network 802 have begun to lose
interest in certain subject matter, have fallen out of grace with each
other, or have demonstrated adverse interests. If a decorrelation has
been detected, and if the decorrelation appears to be long-term, the
server 510 can be programmed in step 720 to terminate the adaptive social
network 802 in whole or in part. It should be noted that the adaptive
social network 802 can also expand over time as the server 510 detects in
step s 702-714 that other users may have similar interests.

[0057] When additional users with common interests are detected, the
server 510 can inform the users in an already established social network
whether they would be interested in adding additional parties. When
decorrelation is detected, the server 510 can also be programmed to
inform the remaining users in the social network with common interests
whether they have a desire to remove the one or more users with the
detected decorrelation. The decision to remove one or more users can be
determined by majority vote, or other criteria established by the social
network.

[0058] In addition to the aforementioned steps, an individual user of a
media device can submit to the server 510 in step 722 a request to
identify other media devices and/or its respective users having
user-generated comments that correlate to the user-generated comments of
the user submitting the request. When receiving such a request, the
server 510 can identify other users who have commented on the same media
content, and thereafter perform correlation analysis as previously
described. The server 510 can then compare the user-generated comments of
all parties to determine which parties are likely to have common
interests with the user submitting the request in step 722. From this
point forward, a social network can be established with the requesting
user in a manner similar to the above descriptions.

[0059] Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident
to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be
modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and
spirit of the claims described below. For example, the server 510 can be
an integral part of a social networking application (e.g., MySpace). In
this embodiment, creating social networks of users based on a correlation
of their user-generated comments can be kept within the community of
users utilizing the social networking application. With the above
technique, sub-groups of social networks can be created within the social
network application.

[0060] Additionally, method 700 can be adapted so that all or a portion of
the steps described above can be performed in a distributed system. That
is, the method can be implemented at each of the media devices without a
server. In this embodiment, the media devices can be adapted to
communicate amongst each other, share user-generated comments and assess
whether correlations exist. Once correlations are detected, messages
could be submitted between the media devices to propose invitations to a
social network.

[0061] It should be further noted that the media devices generating
user-generated comments can be generally represented as computing devices
of any form having the computing and communication resources to perform
the aforementioned embodiments. Thus a computing device can be a mobile
phone, a lap top computer, a desktop computing, a gaming console, or any
other device capable of establishing a communication session with another
device and performing the embodiments of the present disclosure in whole
or in part.

[0062] Other suitable modifications can be applied to the present
disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims below.
Accordingly, the reader is directed to the claims section for a fuller
understanding of the breadth and scope of the present disclosure.

[0063]FIG. 9 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a
machine in the form of a computer system 900 within which a set of
instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or
more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the
machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine
may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a
networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server
or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as
a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

[0064] The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer,
a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop
computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any
machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or
otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be
understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any
electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.
Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall
also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or
jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any
one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

[0065] The computer system 900 may include a processor 902 (e.g., a
central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both),
a main memory 904 and a static memory 906, which communicate with each
other via a bus 908. The computer system 900 may further include a video
display unit 910 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a
solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system
900 may include an input device 912 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control
device 914 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 916, a signal generation
device 918 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface
device 920.

[0066] The disk drive unit 916 may include a machine-readable medium 922
on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 924)
embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described
herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 924
may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory
904, the static memory 906, and/or within the processor 902 during
execution thereof by the computer system 900. The main memory 904 and the
processor 902 also may constitute machine-readable media.

[0067] Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,
application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and
other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the
methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and
systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic
and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more
specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control
and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as
portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example
system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

[0068] In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the methods described herein are intended for operation as software
programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software
implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing
or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or
virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the
methods described herein.

[0069] The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium
containing instructions 924, or that which receives and executes
instructions 924 from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a
network environment 926 can send or receive voice, video or data, and to
communicate over the network 926 using the instructions 924. The
instructions 924 may further be transmitted or received over a network
926 via the network interface device 920.

[0070] While the machine-readable medium 922 is shown in an example
embodiment to be a single medium, the term "machine-readable medium"
should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a
centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and
servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term
"machine-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that
is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for
execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or
more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.

[0071] The term "machine-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to
include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory
card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)
memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)
memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape;
and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained
information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution
medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the
disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable
medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including
art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software
implementations herein are stored.

[0072] Although the present specification describes components and
functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular
standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards
and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet
switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)
represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are
periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having
essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and
protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.

[0073] The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to
provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,
and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the
elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the
structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to
those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other
embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural
and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from
the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational
and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be
exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the
specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather
than a restrictive sense.

[0074] Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to
herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term "invention" merely
for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of
this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more
than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have
been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any
arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for
the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any
and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of
the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described
herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the
above description.

[0075] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.
§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to
quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted
with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed
Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in
a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This
method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention
that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly
recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive
subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed
embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the
Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately
claimed subject matter.